Quarantine Quilt Challenge ~ Finishing Directions

You’re almost there! The hard part is done and it’s time for a 2020 finish. Download a Printable version.

The Quarantine Quilt has three separate borders: two using the background fabric and the middle one is a simple checkerboard border.

Sashing and inner border:

From your background fabric (I used Riley Blake’s white on white) cut eleven (11) strips 2 ½” x WOF

From three strips sub-cut eight (8) strips 2 ½” x 12 ½”. These will become the vertical sashing between blocks

From five strips sub-cut strips 2 ½” x 40 ½”. These will become the horizontal sashing & top/bottom inner border.

From the remaining three strips, trim two of them to 42″. From the third strip, trim the ends and cut two pieces measuring 2 1/2″ x 16 1/2″. Join one to each of the 42″ strips. The strips should now measure 2 1/2″ x 58 1/2″. These will become the vertical inner borders that frame the blocks on the left/right side.

Begin by laying out your finished blocks 3×4 in a setting that appeals to you. It took me a while to come up with my final setting and once I did, I let it sit overnight to make sure I was happy with it.

 

Once your blocks are laid out, join them in rows using the 2 ½” x 12 ½” strips. I don’t have diagrams but the row pattern will be: block, 12 1/2″ sashing strip, block, 12 1/2″ sashing strip, block. Make four rows. Press to the sashing.

The next step is to take one of the five 2 1/2″ by 40 1/2″ strips and fold it in half to find the center. Pin the center of the strip to the center of the top row. Then pin the ends of the strip to the ends of the top row. Finish pinning the inner border strip to the top row and ease in any fullness. Stitch and press to the new strip.

Take the second strip and repeat the process to the bottom of the row you are working with. You should now have a row with a top and bottom sashing.

Continue to alternate adding a row and a 2 1/2″ strip until your quilt begins to take shape.

Once the four rows and five strips are sewn together, the quilt center should measure 40 ½” x 58 ½”.

Next, using the same pinning method as above, pin and sew the 2 ½”x58 ½” strips to the right and left sides. Your top should now look like this:

For the checkerboard borders:

Be sure to read through the directions first. We’re going to use a quick-cut method.

If using a single focal fabric:

Cut seven strips 2 1/2″ x WOF of your focal fabric.

Cut seven strips 2 1/2″ x WOF of your background fabric

With right sides together, sew one focal fabric strip to one background fabric strip along the length. Press seams to the dark side. It’s ok to cut the strips in half to make them easier to work with.

If using scraps or pre-cuts:

Cut a variety of strips from your print fabrics that measure 2 1/2″ wide.

Cut seven 2 1/2″ x WOF strips from your background fabric.

 

With right sides together, sew a print strip to a background strip. I cut my background strips in half as I was using primarily fat quarters. And since I had some shorter strips, I sewed more than one onto a background strip.

Press to the dark side.

Now, take one set of strips and lay them face-up on your cutting table.  Take a second set of strips and lay them face down on the first set with the colors rotated. The seam allowances should nest nicely. See pic.

With a square ruler, trim up the end and sub-cut 2 1/2″ by 4 1/2″ units.

 

Repeat this with all of your strips until you have 110 units.

 

For the horizontal (top/bottom) checkerboard borders, sew two sets of 22 units together, alternating the direction of the printed fabrics. They should measure 44 ½” long.

For the vertical (right/left) checkerboard borders, sew two sets of 33 units together. These should measure 66 ½” long.

Beginning with the horizontal checkerboard borders, pin them to the top and bottom of the quilt. Ease in any fullness and stitch in place.

Repeat for the side checkerboard borders. Now to the final border.

For the outer borders:

From your background fabric cut seven strips  4  ½” x WOF.

Sew three of the strips together end to end. Press seams in the direction of your choice.

Next, sew two sets of two strips together in the same manner. Press.

Layout your quilt top and measure horizontally across the center. Take that measurement and from the strip you just sewed, cut two border sections 4” x width of quilt (roughly 52 1/2″).

Pin, stitch, and press toward the new border.

Lay the quilt back out and measure vertically in the center.

From the 84” strips, cut borders that measure the length of your quilt.

Pin one to each side of the quilt, stitch, and press toward the new border.

I don’t have photos prior to quilting, but this border detail should help you.

Quilt and bind as desired. I used the same purple fabric from the Night and Day block for my binding and the most wonderful Bonnie O’Connor of The Quiltin’ Lady – Longarm Quilting in New Braunfels, Texas quilted my Quarantine Quilt. She used a pale lavender thread and a pattern called Charm Bracelet. Follow her on Facebook and give Bonnie a try. She’s fantastic!

Congratulations! You have just finished the Quarantine Quilt Challenge of 2020.

Below are just a few of the many pictures I took trying to get a good clean shot. It’s a LOT harder than it looks to photograph a quilt.

 

 

As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to me. I truly hope you enjoyed this quilt along. I know I needed the distraction.

Have a blessed weekend.

Melissa